Ananda

Before I met you I hated every love song and every romantic comedy was full of clichés. My friends had found love, or at least an imitation of love, and I resented it. There was a hole inside me that I tried to fill it with food, religion, knowledge, but nothing worked. The only thing that looked like it might fit was love.

I searched. I searched for so long on dating apps, and in groups of friends at clubs and parties. Every time I came close to possibly filling this void inside me, it became apparent that the love wasn’t love at all, and the nothingness within me seemed to grow and distort and become more vile and apparent.

Then, of course, I met you and every love song made sense, every cliché was realistic, and I rejoiced in the love my friends had been experiencing for so long. Quite suddenly, I recognized that the emptiness inside me wasn’t there anymore; you had filled it with love and kindness and strength and your beautiful being. ♦